Graduate Field
Psychological Sciences and Human Development
Program Description
Each program within the field of psychological sciences and human development shares four broadly defined areas of special interest:
- development
- cognition
- neuroscience
- social and personality psychology
The program prepares students for careers in academic life, primarily in psychology, sociology, or human development; in research programs of governmental agencies at various levels; and in a range of programs in community agencies and private enterprise. It does not prepare students to be clinical psychologists, school psychologists, or family life counselors.
Students develop an individual program of study and research in consultation with their special committee, which is chaired by a member of the field of human development but may include faculty members from other fields. All students are required to complete at least two semesters of graduate-level training in statistics and one semester of teaching. The field also requires that students complete a predoctoral research project or master's degree before taking the admission to candidacy examination.
All students are expected to acquire a basic background in the behavioral sciences and to master a broad base of knowledge of human development in the context of family and society. Both the M.A. and the Ph.D. degree programs require a research thesis or dissertation.
For the Ph.D. degree, two semesters of graduate-level training in statistics and some teaching experience are required. The field also requires that candidates complete a predoctoral research project before taking the admission to candidacy examination. The Ph.D. program ordinarily takes four years to complete.
Research Facilities
There are a number of fully equipped laboratories directed by individual faculty members who are conducting observational and experimental studies of basic processes in development. Students may also become involved in research or demonstration projects in the Family Life Development Center (child maltreatment and families under stress) and the Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center (adulthood and aging).
Concentrations
- Aging and health
- Ecology of human development
- Family studies and the life course
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: Ithaca, NY
Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 6
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: First Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): Spring of third year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of fourth year
Field Specific Milestones
- Teaching required (2 courses minimum)
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students
- Proficiency in Statistics at the 5000 level or higher, or test out
- PSYCH 6001 Graduate Professionalism Seminar (In first year)
- 2 Didactic courses at the 5000 level or higher by end of 3rd year
Graduate School Enrollment Requirements
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee.
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students each semester through graduation. These courses include:
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Admissions
Application Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Fall, December 1; no spring admission
Requirements Summary
Most successful applicants have an undergraduate major in a social science field, but students of high ability may be admitted regardless of undergraduate background.
Admissions Contact Information
Email: pac34@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-255-4661
Campus Address: G201 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall
Website: https://psychology.cornell.edu/graduate-admissions-requirements-phd
